Cat Dissection
Basic directions
Cat Dissection: Body Plan
We’ll be talking
about the basic
body plan and
prefixes for
identifying basic
anatomy of the cat.
Body Plan
The basic unit of life is the CELL
CELLS are then organized into TISSUES (Groups of cells)
TISSUES are organized into ORGANS
ORGANS make up ORGAN SYSTEMS
1. Epithelial
Covers surface – lines cavities
2. Connective
Connects “stuff” in the body and fills spaces
3. Muscle
Contractile tissues
4. Nervous
Electrochemical messaging system
Body Plan - Organs
TISSUES are organized into ORGANS
ORGANS are organized into ORGAN SYSTEMS
1. “Myo”
Muscle
2. “Neuro”
Nerves
3. “Gastro”
Stomach intestines
4. “Cardio”
Heart
5. “Renal”
Kidneys
6. “Osteo”
Bones
7. “Pulmonary”
Lungs
Body Cavities:
Body cavities:
Cavity
Viscera contained in the
cavity
Cranial
Brain
Orbital
Eyes
Nasal
Sinuses
Oral
Tongue, teeth, palate
Thoracic
Pleural (2)
Mediastinum
Pericardial
Inside ribcage
Lungs
Pericardium, esophagus,
trachea,
heart
Abdominal
Stomach, liver, intestines,
spleen
Pelvic
Urinary bladder, rep.
organs
Spinal
Spinal cord
Cavities
Body Plan – Anatomical directions
Anatomical directions.
Inferior and superior are used to describe parts below or above one another
Medial means towards the middle while lateral means towards the side
Ventral describes the belly of an animal while dorsal is the back
Anterior is towards the head, while the posterior lies close to the tail
Proximal is close to the main part of the body while distal is away from the main part
of the body
Body Plan – Sections
Sections of the body:
A sagittal section separates left and right
A transverse section separates top from bottom
A frontal (coronal) section separates front (Ventral)
from back (Dorsal)
Dorsal
Coronal –
frontal section
Ventral
Supine
= On back
Pronate
= on stomach
Mid Sagital
Sagital
Anterior end
Coronal –
frontal section
Transverse section
Ventral
Posterior end